Answer types overview

The answer type defines the format that students use to answer a question. The sections below provide links to answer types available in the Advanced Editor, the corresponding answer type name in the Simple Editor, and whether the answer type can be used for mobile-ready content.

Whenever possible, use the Simple Editor to edit/author questions—both for greater ease and to improve student keyboard and screen reader accessibility. For instructions, see the Simple Editor Help.

General (multiple choice, simple text, essay, graph)

Student Responses	Answer type name in the Advanced Editor and in the Simple Editor (links below open to instructions)	Can be mobile?
A multiple choice selection using radio buttons, with one correct answer	solutionMultipleChoiceRadio multiple choice	Yes
A multiple choice selection using a pulldown list, with one correct answer Typically used for pulldown single-word options	solutionMultipleChoiceDropdown multiple choice	Yes
A multiple choice selection with more than one correct answer	solutionMultipleSelect multiselect	Yes
A single word, letter, phrase, or number answer	solutionString simple text input	Yes
Two or more words, letters, phrases, or numbers, separated by a comma	solutionStringSet simple text input	Yes
Essay or short-answer in free form text	solutionEssay essay	No
Manipulate or view graph data	solutionDiagramGraph	No

Drag and drop (rank, sort, label, vocabulary)

Student Responses	Answer type name in the Advanced Editor and in the Simple Editor (links below open to instructions)	Can be mobile?
Rank selections according to stated criteria	solutionAppletRanking ranking/sorting Ranking is the default when you choose this answer type in the Simple Editor.	No
Sort by categories	solutionAppletSorting (See also the release notes.) ranking/sorting After you select this answer type in the Simple Editor, choose Sorting to switch from the default Ranking answer type.	No
Label an image or diagram	solutionAppletLabel (See also the release notes.) labeling	No
Match vocabulary words to definitions or statements	solutionAppletVocab (See also the release notes.) vocabulary	No

Math (numeric/symbolic, with units, equation)

Student Responses	Answer type name in the Advanced Editor and in the Simple Editor (links below open to instructions)	Can be mobile?
A single number (example: 10.5) or an algebraic expression (example 0.5mv^2)	solutionSymbolic numeric value or symbolic expression	Yes
Two or more numbers or algebraic expressions separated by a comma	solutionSymbolicSet numeric value or symbolic expression	Yes
Contain both numeric values and appropriate units	solutionNumberUnits numeric value with units of measurement	Yes
Answer in the form of an equation with the equals sign (=)	solutionEquation	No

Chemistry (chemical formula, chemical drawing: mechanism, skeletal, Lewis structures)

Student Responses	Answer type name in the Advanced Editor and in the Simple Editor (links below open to instructions)	Can be mobile?
Enter a formula with the chemical equation editor	solutionChemicalFormula chemical formula or expression	Yes
Enter two or more formulas with the chemical equation editor	solutionChemicalFormulaSet chemical formula or expression	Yes
Answer organic chemistry mechanism questions using the Marvin JS chemical drawing tool.	solutionOchemMechanism chemical drawing - mechanism	No
Answer organic chemistry skeletal questions using the Marvin JS chemical drawing tool.	solutionOchemSkeletal chemical drawing - skeletal	No
Lewis Structure Drawing Tool - Draw Lewis structures online and select and edit parts of molecular drawings you provide.	solutionAppletFlash chemical drawing - lewis	Yes (tablet, not smartphone)

Physics and Engineering
(vector/moment, bending moment, Mohr's circle, power factor, series and parallel, input on a diagram, multiple functions, XY from graph)

Student Responses	Answer type name in the Advanced Editor and in the Simple Editor (links below open to instructions)	Can be mobile?
Draw vectors and indicate the direction of any moments on the graph	solutionVectorMoment vector moment Use this Simple Editor answer type to edit Vector Moment answers, esp to make them accessible.	No
Draw axial force, shear force, and bending moment diagrams of a loaded beam	solutionAppletFlash engineering - bending/Mohr's Use this Simple Editor answer type to edit Bending Moment answers, esp to make accessible.	No
Mohr's circle — Draw a Mohr's circle or do an analysis of a Mohr's circle Power factor — Denote the power factor of an AC power system Series and parallel — Denote series and parallel symbols of an electric circuit Input on a diagram (or other image) — Enter input on a diagram (add text or real number values into boxes on an image) Multiple functions — Enter one or more functions, units, and a time interval XY from graph — Solve stress/strain problems, solve bode plot problems, or choose values on a plotted graph	solutionAppletFlash engineering - bending/Mohr's After you select this answer type in the Simple Editor, choose Mohr's circle to switch from the default Bending Moment answer type. input on a diagram Use this Simple Editor answer type to create or edit input on a diagram answers, esp to make them accessible.	No

Student Responses

Answer type name in the Advanced Editor and in the Simple Editor (links below open to instructions)

Can be mobile?

Draw vectors and indicate the direction of any moments on the graph

solutionVectorMoment

vector moment
Use this Simple Editor answer type to edit Vector Moment answers, esp to make them accessible.

Draw axial force, shear force, and bending moment diagrams of a loaded beam

solutionAppletFlash

engineering - bending/Mohr's
Use this Simple Editor answer type to edit Bending Moment answers, esp to make accessible.

Mohr's circle — Draw a Mohr's circle or do an analysis of a Mohr's circle

Power factor — Denote the power factor of an AC power system

Series and parallel — Denote series and parallel symbols of an electric circuit

Input on a diagram (or other image) — Enter input on a diagram (add text or real number values into boxes on an image)

Multiple functions — Enter one or more functions, units, and a time interval

XY from graph — Solve stress/strain problems, solve bode plot problems, or choose values on a plotted graph

solutionAppletFlash

engineering - bending/Mohr's
After you select this answer type in the Simple Editor, choose Mohr's circle to switch from the default Bending Moment answer type.

input on a diagram
Use this Simple Editor answer type to create or edit input on a diagram answers, esp to make them accessible.

Do not use solutionTutorial, which is reserved for the Pearson Mastering team authors only.